User:Elisa.rolle/Raoul II, Archbishop of Tours



Raoul II was Archbishop of Tours from 1086 to 1117. Despite the prohibition of Hugues, legate of the Holy See, Raoul had connections with the excommunicated Philip I. Under his episcopate Paschal II came to Tours (1107).

The installation of Jean as bishop of Orleans had been arranged by Jean’s then lover, Raoul II, Archbishop of Tours, who had obligingly crowned Philip I King of France (23 May 1052 – 29 July 1108) on Christmas Day in defiance of a papal interdict placed on Philip for “immoral behavior.” In exchange for the favor, Philip agreed to arrange a bishopric for Jean, who it so happens had also been a previous lover of the king. Prior to Raoul, Jean had also been Raoul's brother, and previous Bishop of Orleans's lover. Jean was consecrated bishop of Orleans on March 1, 1098.

Jean ruled as bishop for almost forty years, and Raoul continued to be well known and respected. Raoul composed songs on his relationship with Jean, who before being elected bishop of Orleans, had been Raoul's archdeacon.